Kelly Blunden and Ross Chafe, and another rider from the cycling club who was unhurt, were heading down a hill at the Duffy Lake Road section of the highway, north of Pemberton, when witnesses said a vehicle veered across the center line, through the other lane of traffic and into the path of Blunden and Chafe, running them down.
Reports say that they were both dead by the time emergency help arrived. The unidentified male passenger in the vehicle, from Mount Currie, was also pronounced dead on scene while the 43-year-old driver, also male and also unidentified, was badly injured and airlifted to hospital.
All three of the dead, Blunden, Chafe and the unidentified passenger, are said to have been in their early 50s. Blunden and Chafe leave families behind.
“It was a fairly bad accident,” Whistler RCMP Sgt. Rob Knapton told CBC. “The description I’ve got is not something I would relate to the public, honestly.”
Reports: driver impaired
The RCMP said the driver at fault for the tragedy, from Lillooet, may have been impaired and charges of impaired driving causing death could be forthcoming. Due to his injuries, police were unable to conduct a roadside test on the driver; an RCMP accompanied him to the hospital.
The vice-president of the Whistler Cycling Club, Gary Baker, said their members are devastated with the news that two comrades are gone. He said both were wonderful men who gave of their time to help others learn riding skills and contribute to the club’s website.
“I just feel hollow,” Baker said. “Because they’re both such great guys.”
